Anthropogenically derived heavy metals in recent sediments of the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea.

The anthropogenic loads of selected heavy metals in Recent soft sediments i n the Gulf of Finland were studied through gravity corer sampling. Metals d erived from silicates was excluded by applying a partial leach. Substractio n of background values gave averages for the anthropogenically derived part of the heavy metal concentrations. The horizontal distribution of the meta ls in the surface sediments shows relatively high concentrations, especiall y in the eastern Gulf of Finland. The vertical distribution patterns vary f rom one part of the study area to another. Levels of all metals are relativ ely high in the upper part of the sediment profiles, usually with a decreas ing trend in the topmost part of the profile. Averaged over the years 1993 to 1995 the annual accumulations of anthropogenically derived metals were, chromium 199 t, copper 158 t, cadmium 7.9 t, zinc 728 t, lead 165 t, cobalt 43.7 t and mercury 1.5 t. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.